We celebrated my wife Margit's birthday at Rocca and I am still speechless. This was not just…read moredinner. This was an experience. From the moment we walked in, Taylor and the team made every person at our table feel like the only guests in the room. The service was flawless, attentive without being intrusive, and the kind of hospitality you simply cannot manufacture. Jenna coordinated the celebration and did an incredible job. When we sat down and saw the personalized birthday menu with Margit's name handwritten at the top, that was it. That is the moment a restaurant stops being a restaurant and becomes a memory. Thank you Jenna. The food was exceptional across the board. The Little Gem Salad was fresh and well composed. The Asparagus with confit artichoke was beautifully plated and tasted every bit as good as it looked. The Gnocchi with broccolini and trout roe was a standout. The cocktails were creative and well crafted, and the virgin mojito was executed perfectly. Rocca is now top 3 restaurants of my life. If you are planning something special for someone you love, do not overthink it. Call Jenna, ask for Taylor, and let Rocca do the rest. We will be back. Without question.

Do yourself a favor, if you like cheese, start with the mozzarella cart! It is the freshest…read moremozzarella I've ever had, made table side. Not usually a fan of tomatoes but this caprese was fantastic. Agnolotti was delicious, a little spice from the sausage but well balanced with the sauce. Sphaghetti al limone was my favorite bite of the whole meal. Generous portions of crab meat with a buttery, tart kick of lemon sauce was incredible. Service was excellent as expected from a place with this reputation and pricing. Our server was very attentive and made appropriate recommendations throughout. Ambiance was dark and intimate. An upscale atmosphere without being overly stuffy. A must try for a nicer night out, we went for our anniversary dinner and had a wonderful experience. Would definitely come back here again!

Friends brought me here to celebrate another friend, and it was such a lovely experience!…read more1. I was obsessed with the view--whether the curtains were down during sunset or opened afterward, the atmosphere was beautiful. 2. Jason is the BEST! Not only was his service outstanding, but he also shared so many interesting behind-the-scenes stories about the restaurant. 3. There are so many great options on the menu that one visit definitely isn't enough to find your favorite. You'll need to come back and try more! 4. Before leaving, I made a wish in the garden. Now I have another reason to return: to try more dishes once my wish comes true--hopefully soon! Definitely a place for a special celebration.

Updating my experience this evening from 5 star to one as we were attempting to celebrate my…read moremother's birthday. I have been visiting the 1905 restaurants and their family of brands for over 25 years. I've been to the Columbia so many times that I could probably draw you the layout from memory. That history and loyalty is exactly why yesterday's experience was so disappointing. Yesterday, we were celebrating my mother's 64th birthday, and I chose Casa Santo Stefano because of the superior service I've received in the past, the excellent quality of the food, and because my company,, typically books Casa Santo Stefano for events and has never given me reason to doubt the brand. Unfortunately, my experience with my family yesterday was more than disappointing. Valerio dropped the ball in so many ways at our table. We repeatedly went without water, at times for more than 10 minutes, and I was constantly looking around for him. My mother's Moscow Mule took approximately 20 minutes to arrive. When I jokingly asked if he had gone to Moscow to get it, he told me they "didn't have any cups." That was difficult to believe when the drink was clearly sitting there long enough for the cup to become heavily sweated and the ice to melt. I also began noticing that Valerio seemed far more attentive to a table of 10 young women who had just arrived. He was taking their photos, laughing with them and engaging with them, while our table was repeatedly forgotten. The situation with dessert was particularly upsetting because it was my mother's birthday. Valerio asked whether we had seen a dessert menu, and I told him we had not. As I got up to speak with the manager, a kids' ice cream dessert was brought to our table instead. We wanted to look at the dessert menu, order a few things, and have the restaurant sing Happy Birthday to my mother. That simple experience was completely missed, and it was something we had genuinely been looking forward to. On top of everything, the air conditioning was not functioning properly in the restaurant, which made an already uncomfortable experience even more difficult. I appreciate the manager Ty, giving my mother a box of cookies and a handwritten card from the staff as we were leaving. Unfortunately, by that point, the damage had already been done. What bothered me most was that Valerio never seemed to appreciate the significance of the occasion, never apologized for the repeated service issues, and ultimately dropped off the check and walked away. I simply do not understand how this happened, particularly on a day when the restaurant was not even especially busy. I believe Valerio needs additional training and guidance, particularly in the level of hospitality and attentiveness expected from a restaurant carrying the 1905 Family of Restaurants name. I want to emphasize that I am not writing this because I have turned my back on the brand. Quite the opposite. I am writing because I have been loyal to this brand for more than two decades, I genuinely believe in what the 1905 Family of Restaurants represents, and yesterday's experience fell so far below that standard that I feel compelled to say something. My mother's 64th birthday only happens once, and unfortunately, instead of leaving with another wonderful 1905 memory, we left disappointed. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously, not simply as a complaint about one server, but as an opportunity to make sure another family celebrating an important occasion does not have the same experience.

I would give Bavoro's a 6/10. I had a reservation for 7:30 and arrived around 10 mins early and…read moredidn't get sat till 7:50. The manager did come out to compensate us with a free appetizer but still unacceptable. Food was overall pretty good. Vodka pasta did lack some flavor but the 3 meat pizza was very good. Waitress wasn't super attentive but very nice. It was a Saturday night so pretty busy for a small restaurant and waitress were walking in and out of the door. I would maybe try the St.pete location next time.

We were in the area for an appointment and decided to stop by Bavaro's for dinner before the rush…read more We had tried coming here before without a reservation, but it was super packed since it's a smaller restaurant so we were excited to finally get to try it! This time we went earlier and there was only one other couple there so we were seated right away. We ordered a pizza, oysters, and the lemon pasta, and everything was SO delicious. The food came out quickly and the service was very attentive without being overbearing. I also really loved the vibe here. It's cozy and intimate which makes it feel like a great spot for a date night or a nice dinner. We'll definitely be coming back the next time we're in the area!

Beautiful upscale atmosphere. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable. Amazing food and…read moredrinks, I can't wait to go back!

Olivia's in Tampa delivered an excellent dining experience, from the beautifully designed interior…read moreto the attentive service and, most importantly, the food. The decor is sophisticated without feeling pretentious, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The service was polished, attentive, and well-paced, allowing us to enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. It's lively- too loud for a first date. The highlight of the meal was the tableside chicken Parmesan, which we tried with both vodka sauce and traditional marinara. Both preparations were excellent, and the tableside presentation was a nice touch. It's refreshing to see a restaurant put this much effort into both the food and the dining experience. The only minor criticism was the lasagna, which was slightly oversalted. A little more restraint with the seasoning would have made it a much better dish. As someone who appreciates good Italian cooking, I particularly enjoyed the attention to presentation and the opportunity to experience two different preparations of a classic dish. Olivia's gets a lot of things right. Beautiful surroundings, professional service, and well-executed food made for a memorable evening. Definitely a restaurant I would return to. Lots of gf options

In your lifetime, you will see about 3-4 great boxers in the ring. When you know, you know. This is…read moreone of them. A friend came in town and the boys knew we needed to get in our bag and show him a proper meal. A recommendation from somebody within the group threw out Osteria Natalina and they couldn't have been more on point. Now, as you see in my posts, I eat, we eat, we throw down. Starting out with wine and bread for the table. Fantastic touch. Moving onto Cesar salads with cracked pepper on top. Fresh, light, just enough. Moving into the next round, pear sacchetti and meatballs. First off. Absolute killer way to start a meal but the chef/owner/MAN OF THE HOUR, treaded us so unbelievably well and we found out at this part of the meal that he was there to make the night special. Brought out extra on both of the items above to ensure everybody got a fair share and tasted the excellence that he plated for us. Moving on, entrees, 3 daily lasagna specials, a seafood linguini and finally, my meal...the man of the hour (I regret not getting his name) threw me an absolute bone. I asked if I should go gnocchi or carbonara when I ordered and he said "let me surprise you". My man came out with a half and half combo and didnt cut back on the portions. Truly excellent service. He didn't need to do that but he did. Remarkable. Finally, dessert. Wow. We got about everything. All three cakes, cannolis, pistachio ice cream. The lot. Everything truly was unreal. All clean plates. Nothing left in any fashion. By the way, he gave us an extra cannoli so we all had our own. The inside of this place is also so intimate and cozy. Staff didn't let a single water go dry. I mean this was 5 star excellence and I can't stress it enough. A firm handshake before exiting the restaurant from "THE Man" and we were on our way. I can't recommend this place enough. I almost want to gate keep just to keep it for myself. But I can't. It needs to shine. It deserves it. Thank you to the entire staff. You all are exceptional.

We absolutely love this place, but today was the first time I was disappointed…read more I will start with the Meatballs are absolutely to die for! So delicious The one thing unique about this place is they tell you, order any classic Italian dishes and they can make it. I asked for chicken cacciatore, and was told, "sorry we can't make that". Very disappointing. I had to settle for chicken parmigiana. All of our dishes were delicious but still disappointed.

This was my first Visit to Bella's. We walked in just after opening. Lovely atmosphere.. classic…read moreItalian feel. We were welcomed immediately. We were seated and asked for drink options quickly. THe service was very friendly and prompt. The menu had a great variety. We ordered an appetizer of Carpaccio it was so good. Whatever sauce was on the plate was sooo good. I ordered the Romano with a side of angel hair Alfredo. I will tell you right now, that The Romano is now one of my favorite chicken recipes ever!! It was fabulous!! Loved the artichokes on top!! My Lunch companions ordered Pera Sachet... she absolutely loved it. She doesn't typically like pears, but absolutely loved this dish. Ravioli Verde.... It was very good but heavier and more filling than she expected. We also got the Insalata Miata salad and had them split it between the three of us. The salad was Very refreshing and loved the hearts of palm in it. Because we were celebrating, we got dessert. They brought it with a candle for our celebration. The vanilla and raspberry crème brûlée was outstanding.. and a chocolate covered lava cake of some sort served with a side of vanilla ice cream, which was just sinfully good. Our server was very sweet and personable with a bright smile. I will be back and I will bring friends!

Food: The pizza is excellent; not NY style, thank goodness. Ravioli special was very good. Meat…read moresauce is yummy. Service: OK, but not outstanding. Ambiance: Very nice.

I came here for my birthday dinner, and I was absolutely impressed!…read more The staff was professional, pleasant, and on point. Everyone we dealt with was wonderful! The food was amazing. I only got pictures of 1/2 the food. Pasta was perfectly al dente, the eggplant fritters were perfectly fried and not greasy, the meatballs were top notch, and the espresso is one of the bests in the entire Tampa Bay Area. I know this spot has been around for a long time, but that was my first visit. It was such a good visit with tasty food and friendly staff that I will be back again and again!

Valentines dinner with the hubs and a new place this year. We were excited to get out and try…read moresomething new. From the awkwardness at checking in to the disappointment with the food, we leave dissatisfied which is unfortunate. The parking is tight but we were able to find a spot. Walked in and nobody at the front so we waited and someone did come. Not really welcomed, just walked up and asked for our name. Gave our reservation name and time. We were a bit early. Told to hang at the bar until the table was ready. We just sat upfront. Made it to the table and seating was tight. I felt like I was in the conversation of the party next to us. Service was ok - server was polite and professional. Took our drink and food order but really didn't check back in on us frequently. The valentine menu included a starter, a soup or salad, a main entrée and a dessert per person. I ordered the artichoke dip as my starter, tomato soup, the blackened mahi and for dessert, the chocolate mousse cake. Artichoke dip was the winner of the evening. It was very good and plentiful so we actually boxed and took home to enjoy. The tomato soup came out next and was so salty that it was not edible. The soup and the artichoke dip sat on the table for a while before the waitress came over to check in on us. When she did come over we advised we wanted the artichoke dip boxed, but the tomato soup was overly salty, like the container of salt fell into the soup. The individuals at the table next to us agreed that the soup was not able to be eaten due to the salt level, the server basically apologized and said there was nothing that they could do given it was a set menu, which was very disappointing that they did nothing to either resolve the issue or offer a salad in place of the soup give we could not eat the salad. Since the meal was prepaid, they should've done something to fix, but the messaging was basically like oh you're SOL. Like I took your money now deal with it. On to the mahi -- it was supposed to be served over coconut lime rice however it was more like a firm block of mushy porridge. Like the rice, maybe had been sitting in water or something all day not sure but it was gross and it had no flavor. The fish was also overcooked because it wasn't flaky and I think that it lacked flavor as well. I ended up boxing it and not even eating it whenever we got home. I think the trash can enjoyed it more than I did. We were full and basically over the experience so we got our desserts to go. Hubs ordered the poundcake and I ordered the chocolate mousse cake. Got home, put everything in the fridge except for the desserts, sat down on the couch to enjoy our desserts and mine was missing!! I had a takeout container that had the whipped cream and a little thing of chocolate mousse in it but no cake. WTHeck man!? It was icing on the cake or the cherry on top for the evening we experienced at this point. Let's just say that based on all the reviews for this place, we expected better and were quite disappointed. Especially for the cost of the prefix menu. I truly believe that a higher quality should've been had given this was one of the busiest days of the year to win people over.

Finally got to try Forbici this weekend and it did not disappoint! Saturday night was very busy and…read morethe wait was over an hour but thankfully they had a table for 2 that did not show up so we got right in!! The restaurant is loud and lively due to it being so busy! They have a a great cocktail menu with Italian spritz and rotating specials. For appetizers we did the buffalo chicken pizza which was so delicious!! They have a thin and thick crust pizzas, but this one only came in thick crust. For entrees we did the gnocchi and since they offer pasta half portions, I had the Cacio e Pepe and the rigatoni alla vodka! Both were delicious and that Cacio e Pepe was so creamy. Our server was nice and friendly. The cost for 2 honestly wasn't that bad. I loved all the food and will definitely be back!!

Fungi- yummy. Perfect mushroom and truffle ratio. I just don't like how square pizzas are super…read moredoughy. I wish they made each flavor with the option or round of square because I'd rather have a fungi round. Vodka rigatoni- basic. I've had good vodka rigatonis and I added chicken ($6+) but that chicken was so plain and bland looking. Cup and char- infamous but idk why, not that special. L'amante cocktail- good..but inconsistent. My friend got the same drink but both of ours tasted different and were different colors even. Indoor space is kind of cramped if you ask me. And the outside has fans but they don't help cool at all. Bathrooms are clean however and the servers/hostess are really nice.

Unfortunately, didn't snag any pics, but this place is so cute, so aesthetic. They have an actual…read moreEuropean alley and a wine window. Love the look and vibe of this place. I tried the limoncello spiritz and an on tap Cabernet Sauvignon, both yummy. The bread that is served for free while you take a look at the menu is tiny crostini with a bruschetta tomato side to put on it and wow, so delicious. I got the butternut squash ravioli. I didn't have any leftovers, I wish I did because that was 10 out of 10, absolutely exquisite. A lot of good options on the menu so we'll have to be back to try some more entrées. All meals come with a salad and espresso. Caesar salad was okay, had to add pepper and the espresso was really nice to tie up the evening. Server was super nice, helpful, and everything came out pretty fast. Would definitely recommend this place to somebody. The only reason why I wouldn't is so that there's less of a wait for when I go back myself many times

The staff was so nice. We came in without a reservation and they accommodated us( with some…read moreparameters). The location is small and rustic but makes good use of the space. The bench seating of the table required a booster seat if you are under 6ft. The outdoor space on the side gives "Little Italy" vibes The food: the house salad was phenomenal, simple and delicious. All of the food we had was good( not great). The marinara was quality but did require a little salt. The meatballs needed a little more depth in regard to flavor. Overall it is a solid italian restaurant